[Today’s K-pop] BTS tops 1.7b views with ‘Boy With Luv’ video

The music video for BTS’ “Boy With Luv” reached 1.7 billion views on YouTube on Monday, said label Big Hit Music on Tuesday. It is the band’s second video to hit the milestone on the platform after that of “Dynamite.” “Boy With Luv (feat. Halsey)” fronted sixth EP “Map of the Soul: Persona” from April 2019, which claimed the top spot on the Billboard 200. The single debuted on Billboard’s Hot 100 at No. 8 and stayed on the main s

K-popAug. 22, 2023

SBS coverage on Fifty Fifty’s legal dispute draws backlash

Entertainment industry heavyweights have demanded an apology from the production crew of the SBS program “Unanswered Questions” for what they claim was biased coverage of Fifty Fifty’s ongoing legal dispute with its agency Attrakt. The Korea Management Federation, which represents at least 350 Korean entertainment agencies and labels, described the episode that aired Saturday, as "poor content" and "biased reporting." “We want to pinpoint two problems

K-popAug. 22, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] SHINee’s Key to return as solo next month

Key of SHINee will make a comeback as a solo musician on Sept. 11, according to label SM Entertainment on Monday. He will release second solo EP “Good ＆ Great” that will consist of six tracks including the main track of the same title. The EP comes about seven months since “Killer,” a reissue of his second solo full album, “Gasoline.” The repack topped the iTunes top albums chart in 21 regions as did the LP in 24. Meanwhile, the veteran idol recently wrapped

K-popAug. 21, 2023

AKMU returns with new single 'Love Lee'

K-pop's famed sibling duo AKMU returned Monday with a new single "Love Lee," bringing back the pair's trademark positive, upbeat energy. The co-ed duet, consisting of Lee Chan-hyuk and his younger sister Lee Su-hyun, will drop its fourth single, "Love Lee," Monday evening, marking the first comeback in over two years since releasing its collaboration album, "Next Episode," in July 2021. During a press conference held in Seoul on Monday, the siblings introd

K-popAug. 21, 2023

Five former Loona members to embark on new journey as Loossemble next month

Five former members of Loona -- Hyunjin, Yeojin, Vivi, Gowon and Hyeju -- are relaunching their careers with a new agency, CTD E&M, as Loossemble next month. The agency announced the group’s debut by dropping a trailer on its official social media accounts on YouTube and X, formerly known as Twitter, on Monday. The clip begins by showing satellite antennas on the rooftop of a building, and then continues into the building with unknown music playing in the background. The clip ends reve

K-popAug. 21, 2023

Mimiirose returns with new album next month

Mimiirose, known for being the first and only K-pop girl group produced by singer and actor Im Chang-jung, is making its comeback next month. Yes Im Entertainment, the label which houses the group, announced Monday that the group is releasing a new album on Sep. 14. This comeback comes after a year since the group made its debut with its first single album, “Awesome," last September. The teaser poster for the upcoming album, which displays an image of a mask, flower, phone case, lipst

K-popAug. 21, 2023

Everglow ends 20-month hiatus with free-spirited return

Girl group Everglow made a long-awaited comeback on Friday with its fourth single "All My Girls." The six-piece returns after a 20-month break with renewed energy, putting themselves forward as a voice for all girls around the world and declaring the members' determination to walk their own paths. The members, E:U, Sihyeon, Mia, Onda, Aisha and Yiren, Friday held a press showcase in Seoul on Friday, where they performed the single package's main track, "Slay," live

K-popAug. 18, 2023

Jihyo of Twice kicks off solo career

Jihyo of Twice made her solo debut on Friday with EP "Zone," venturing on a new journey nine years since her debut. The 26-year-old is the second member of the girl group to debut solo, following Nayeon who released the album "Im Nayeon" in June 2022. Jihyo held a press conference in Seoul on Friday, a few hours before "Zone" came out at 1 p.m. that day. According to Jihyo, she began working on the album last year. "When the company told me that I'd be mak

K-popAug. 18, 2023

TripleS launches 3rd subunit LOVElution, debut album

TripleS introduced a new subunit, LOVElution, on Thursday. LOVElution consists of eight members from the 24-member K-pop girl group tripleS that debuted earlier this year — Seoyeon, Hyerin, Yubin, Kaede, Dahyun, Nien, Sohyun and Xinyu. “We are so excited for this debut. It has always been my dream to debut in Korea. I sometimes face language and cultural barriers working in Korea but my members are always there to help me out. We will do our best to show the best of us through this a

K-popAug. 17, 2023

'Street Woman Fighter' goes global with second season

Two years after Mnet's "Street Woman Fighter" shook the nation, the dance survival show is back with a global lineup. The original series was a megahit, leading to a relay of similar dance survival programs -- including its own spinoff of "Street Man Fighter" and "Street Dance Girls Fighter." The TV channel is set to launch the second season of its dance survival show on Tuesday, with eight top-tier female dance crews from in and out of the country -- 1Million,

K-popAug. 17, 2023

[Herald Interview] Lucy aims to expand reach with pop-rock music

The band Lucy never grows tired of being experimental when it comes to their music. Even their debut in 2019 was sensational as they blended violin sounds with pop rock. “There was a lot of trial and error in the beginning. We had to come up with a way to harmonize the sound of a guitar and a violin. These two instruments have similar sounds but are difficult to mix up. After various attempts, we figured out that the order of tuning the sounds of these instruments is the key. We started to

K-popAug. 17, 2023

StayC blows out in summer festivity with iconic 'Teenfresh'

The pop queens of StayC is returning Wednesday to enthrall the nation yet again with their bubbly energy. This time, they have gone all-out on youthful effervescence with "Teenfresh." During a press conference in Seoul on Wednesday, the members called the album a summer blowout, welcoming listeners to a playground of seasonal festivity. "The album embraces StayC's iconic genre of 'teen fresh.' We've jam-packed it with six songs flourishing in our unique colors

K-popAug. 16, 2023

Secret Number to drop new album on Aug. 24

Multinational K-pop group Secret Number is making a comeback with a new album, the band's agency Vine Entertainment said Tuesday. According to the agency, the album will be released at 12 p.m. on Aug. 24. The forthcoming album marks the band's swift return in three months since releasing its sixth EP "Doxa" in May. Secret Number is six-member act that debuted in May 2020 with the single "Who Dis?" The multinational group is comprised of Lea from Japan; Dita from Ind

K-popAug. 15, 2023

[Herald Review] Le Sserafim overcomes fear with first concert 'Flame Rises'

Le Sserafim's standalone concert was one of many firsts for the five members. A valiant first attempt, and the first time the charismatic and bold group got vulnerable on stage. The two-day event, held over the weekend at the Jamsil Arena located in the Olympic Sports Complex in Seoul, marked the start of the group's first global concert tour "Flame Rises." Some 10,500 tickets for the long-awaited concert were sold out in just eight minutes, according to the band's label

K-popAug. 14, 2023

Day6’s Young K to hold 1st solo concert next month

Young K of the K-pop boy band Day6 is holding his first standalone concert next month before releasing his first solo studio album, according to JYP Entertainment on Monday. The concert “Letter with notes” will be held on Sept. 1-3 at Kwangwoon University’s Donhae Culture and Arts Center in Seoul. The last day of Young K’s first standalone concert will be live-streamed via Beyond Live for fans overseas. Young K also awaits the release of his first solo studio album &ldquo

K-popAug. 14, 2023

Singer-songwriter Younha drops LP record version of 4th studio album 'Supersonic'

Singer-songwriter Younha dropped the LP record version of her fourth studio album “Supersonic," according to C9 Entertainment on Monday. This is the first time in 17 years since her debut that Younha released an LP record version of her album. The LP record orders began online on Friday, and will be available until Sept. 15. Her fourth studio album “Supersonic” was released back in 2012. The album comprises of 12 tracks led by the title track “Run.” It also car

K-popAug. 14, 2023

BTS' V tops iTunes charts in 70 countries with 'Rainy Days'

BTS member V topped the iTunes Top Song charts in 70 countries around the world with his new solo single, "Rainy Days," on Saturday, a day after its release, his agency said. "Rainy Days," one of the six tracks on his upcoming debut solo album, "Layover," was at No. 1 in the United States, Great Britain, Germany, France and dozens of other countries as of 9 a.m., according to BigHit Music. "Love Me Again," another pre-released track for V's first solo

K-popAug. 12, 2023

Tumultuous World Scout Jamboree comes to end with K-pop flair, apology

The 25th World Scout Jamboree, after a tumultuous 12-day run, came to an end Friday at the Seoul World Cup Stadium. Despite the frequent changes and troubles that plagued the Jamboree, around 40,000 participants gathered in Seoul for the closing ceremony and for the “K-pop Super Live” concert that followed. Around 2,500 police officers were present at the stadium to manage the crowd. Some 400 traffic police officers and 30 police cars were placed near the venue for traffic control, a

K-popAug. 12, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] TXT becomes face of Dior

  Tomorrow X Together has been named the brand ambassador of Dior, according to the French fashion house on Friday. “Tomorrow X Together are the perfect ambassadors for Dior. They have a great attitude and style and they look great in their custom stage outfits,” said Kim Jones, artistic director of the maison. Jones custom-designed the stage outfits for the five bandmates who headlined the Lollapalooza festival in Chicago last weekend, a first for a K-pop act. Meanwhile, the b

K-popAug. 11, 2023

BTS’ V unveils ‘Love Me Again’ music video ahead of solo album release

V of the K-pop sensation BTS unveiled the music video for “Love Me Again,” one of the sidetracks in his upcoming first solo album “Layover,” on Thursday. The music video for the R&B track, which accentuates V's low ethereal vocals, was filmed in a cave in Mallorca, Spain, according to Big Hit Music. “The mystical vibe that the cave gives and V’s low and vibrating voice harmonized well to create a unique mood. The camera could only focus on V, the sing

K-popAug. 10, 2023